HRC is saddened to learn the loss of Celine Walker, who was fatally shot in a hotel room in Jacksonville, Florida.

Transgender advocate Monica Roberts writes on her TransGriot blog that the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office was called to the location after Walker’s body was discovered at a local hotel on Sunday evening.

Sadly, Roberts also reports that police misgendered Walker because they claim to not refer to victims as transgender. As a result, Walker was not identified as trans until several days after her death was reported. A friend of Walker’s also made a plea on Facebook for media and police to stop misgendering transgender victims.

Investigators are still looking for a suspect in Walker’s death and urge any witnesses to call Crimestopper at 866-845-TIPS (8477) with any information.

Walker, 36, is now the fourth known transgender homicide victim reported this year.

HRC Foundation and the Trans People of Color Coalition released a report documenting the senseless acts of violence that made 2017 the deadliest year on record for transgender people, particularly for trans women of color.